A poet-carpenter, a political communicator, and a global connector — this year’s Mount Allison Alumni Award recipients show there’s no single path to a meaningful life. From breaking barriers to shaping national conversations to building international bridges, Kate Braid (’67), Emelyana Titarenko (’20), and Eric Brown (’77) are united not just by impressive résumés, but by their commitment to creating space for others, staying curious, and carrying a piece of Sackville wherever they go.

Eric Brown (’77) — Charles Frederick Allison Award

Builder of global alumni community.

Eric Brown didn’t set out to become Mount Allison’s unofficial ambassador in the UK—but that’s what 25 years of hosting alumni gatherings will do.

After graduation, Eric left Sackville for further studies, then a career in telecommunications and eventually the energy sector. His professional life has included roles in industry, government, academia, and innovation—what the Brits call a “portfolio career.” But whether consulting or lecturing or advising, he’s stayed connected to Mount Allison and the friends he made here.

After moving to the UK “just for a couple of years,” he never left. Over the past four decades, he’s travelled widely for work, shifted career tracks entirely, and become an active figure in the alumni network abroad. His decision to pivot from telecom to energy, he says, was partly driven by a desire to contribute to global climate solutions.

Still, Mount A has always been close. Eric returned to campus to give a guest lecture in a Commerce class—an experience he remembers fondly—and speaks with real gratitude about the professors who gave him space to explore, change direction, and build confidence. “It gave me a solid foundation to build on—not just academically, but in many other ways too,” he says.

Being honoured with the Charles Frederick Allison Award prompted reflection more than celebration. “It made me think about what Mount A has meant in my life,” he says. “And I’m just glad I could help keep those connections going for others, too.”

Kate Braid (’67) — Lifetime Achievement Award

Poet. Carpenter. Educator. Trailblazer.

Kate Braid’s career defies neat description, which is part of the point. After graduating from Mount Allison in 1967 with a degree in Secretarial Studies, she didn’t follow the expected script. “When I was at Mt. A., girls were supposed to grow up, get married and have babies. But I’d already done the ‘baby’ thing as the eldest of six—I wanted more,” she says.

That “more” took her across Europe, through a string of support jobs, and eventually onto a construction site in 1977—where she began a long and unconventional career in the trades. She became a Red Seal carpenter, co-founded the first Women in Trades group in British Columbia, and helped organize the first National Women in Trades conference. “Getting my Red Seal Carpenter’s ticket is one of the accomplishments I’m most proud of,” she says.

All the while, she was writing. First in notebooks on job sites, then as a graduate student in creative writing at UBC. She’s since authored more than 20 books, including her recent memoir-in-verse, The Erotics of Cutting Grass: Reflections on a Well-Loved Life.

Kate’s connection to Mount Allison has never faded. She remembers the small campus as a place that gave her confidence and the freedom to listen to her instincts. When told she’d won the Lifetime Achievement Award, she was “stunned —then honoured,” though she also laughed at the idea that the award might imply her life is winding down. Far from it — she has a new poetry collection in the works, continues to advise a Women in Trades group, and spends her time between British Columbia and France.

Asked what advice she’d give to current students, Braid doesn’t hesitate: “Follow your bliss. Trust your gut, even if it sounds crazy to others.” 

Emelyana Titarenko (’20) — Contemporary Achievement Award

Rising voice in public policy.

If you were on campus around 2020, you probably knew her as Yana. A student leader with the Mount Allison Students’ Union and an athletic therapist on the sidelines of Mounties games, she was everywhere — and always looking for ways to contribute.

Now, just five years out from graduation, she’s the Director of Communications for the federal Minister for Women and Gender Equality. Her work plays a key role in shaping how national conversations unfold on equity and inclusion.

“What I’m most passionate about,” she says, “is playing even a small part in making sure women and gender-diverse individuals are better off.”

Her path hasn’t been seamless. A job rejection right after graduation stung but prompted her to reach out to a fellow Mountie, which led to her first position on Parliament Hill. From there, she moved fast: Health Canada during the Omicron wave, Treasury Board during a historic spending review, and now, one of the most senior communications roles in her ministry.

Yana credits much of her growth to the mentorship of the political leaders she’s worked with — and to the resilience she built at Mount A. “Mount A shaped everything that I am,” she says.

She remains connected to the university through alumni events in Ottawa and regular check-ins with staff who helped her along the way.

Being selected for the Contemporary Achievement Award came as a surprise. “It means the world,” she says. “Knowing that I’m making my alma mater proud validates everything I’ve worked hard for.” 

Next up? More policy change, more leadership, and maybe a new personal best in her next half marathon. Her guiding principle remains simple: “Do the hard thing with the right people.”

Three different stories. One familiar spirit.

Whether it’s on a construction site, in a Cabinet office, or at a London alumni luncheon, the spirit of Mount Allison shows up in all kinds of places. For Kate, Yana, and Eric, it’s shown up in the choices they’ve made, the communities they’ve helped shape, and the pride they still carry in where they started.